Abstract
ABSTRACT In recent years, concerns regarding the impacts of deforestation of riparian vegetation on water resources have created social and political tensions in Brazil. This research analyzed simulated hydrologic components of a 6.76 km2 headwater watershed with different widths of riparian vegetation. Lavrinha Watershed (LW) hydrological responses were simulated using the Distributed Hydrology Soil Vegetation Model (DHSVM), which was forced using meteorological data from one station (2005-2010). Land cover scenarios where the percent land cover of Atlantic Forest was increased from the control resulted in changes in hydrologic components in the watershed due to increased evapotranspiration and rainfall interception and reduced runoff and overland flow. The base flow/runoff relationship has increased, suggesting that riparian vegetation plays an important role in groundwater recharge. Modeling of hydrologic components linked to riparian buffer scenarios, such as the process used in this study, can be a useful tool for decision-making strategies regarding watershed management.
Highlights
Almost two-thirds of the Brazilian territory still has a prevalence of natural vegetation
The Atlantic Forest occupies an area of 28,586 km2 in Minas Gerais state, which means 10.3% of the remnants of this land cover in Minas Gerais state (FSOSMA; INPE, 2015)
The hydrologic components in watersheds with Atlantic Forest land cover have been the object of many scientific studies at field level (ÁVILA et al, 2014; RIBEIRO et al, 2009; SALEMI et al, 2013)
Summary
Almost two-thirds of the Brazilian territory still has a prevalence of natural vegetation. The Atlantic Forest occupies an area of 28,586 km in Minas Gerais state, which means 10.3% of the remnants of this land cover in Minas Gerais state (FSOSMA; INPE, 2015). This ecosystem has been widely studied as it plays an important role in the water cycle, mainly through influencing rainfall interception, evapotranspiration, soil infiltration, and groundwater recharge. The hydrologic components in watersheds with Atlantic Forest land cover have been the object of many scientific studies at field level (ÁVILA et al, 2014; RIBEIRO et al, 2009; SALEMI et al, 2013). The forested riparian zones retain sediment and chemicals (fertilizers and pesticides) applied on the cultivated/agricultural sites on upslope regions of the watersheds (SALEMI et al, 2012; ZHAO et al, 2013)
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